What is internal link checking?
The Internal Link Checker lets you check a page's internal links, viewing target URLs, anchors, server response codes, and redirects. This report makes it easier to find broken links, outdated URLs, and pages that have fallen out of normal interlinking.
An internal link leads from one page of a website to another page of the same site. Search engines use these links when crawling the site, and visitors use them to navigate between services, categories, products, articles, and other related content.
Internal link checking reveals the health of the link structure and helps identify technical errors. The analysis looks at the URL, landing page, link anchor, HTTP status, and other available parameters.
What is considered an internal link?
Internal links include those from menus, breadcrumbs, text, product pages, related content blocks, categories, and the footer. If a link leads to a page within the same site, it is considered internal linking.
When checking, consider the link's purpose and the state of the final URL. A working link should lead to the actual page and help the user continue browsing without unnecessary intermediate steps.
Why analyze a website's internal links?
Analyzing a website's internal links helps search engines find pages and understand the connections between sections. It also reveals which documents receive the most internal traffic and where the site's navigation logic is broken.
Audits are typically conducted for four purposes: site crawling, page indexing, internal link equity distribution, and user-friendly navigation. There's no set, correct number of links for all pages.
What problems can internal link analysis help identify?
Analyzing a website's internal links is especially useful after major changes, when parts of the old structure remain invisible to the naked eye. Errors can be found in text, menus, cards, breadcrumbs, and common template elements.
The most common situations encountered during a technical audit are:
- broken internal links lead to deleted pages or incorrect addresses;
- old transitions continue to work through 301 or 302 after changing the URL;
- Anchors like "here" and "read" do not explain the purpose of the transition well;
- an important page receives few links from related sections;
- the same transitions are repeated many times without any additional benefit;
- Technical URLs and parameters are referenced from filters or old templates.
After listing the problems, you need to assess their scope and source. An error in one text is corrected locally, but an incorrect link in a template can be repeated across hundreds of pages.
Broken internal links
Broken links appear after deleting documents, changing URLs, moving categories, and simple editing errors. On a large site, a single old URL can persist across multiple page types.
First, a valid replacement must be identified. If a suitable page exists, the URL is updated; if no replacement exists, the link is removed.
Internal links via redirect
Redirects are necessary when moving pages, but it's more practical to point the permanent internal link directly to the current URL. This is especially true after changing the site structure.
The "Page A → Old URL → New URL" scheme adds an intermediate transition. After the migration, it's best to gradually update internal links to their final URLs.
Weak or uninformative anchors
Phrases like "here", "follow the link", and "read" often require additional context. A more specific anchor quickly explains to the user what content will open after clicking.
There's no need to mechanically insert search queries into every transition. The wording should match the content of the landing page and remain natural.
Too few links to an important page
A new category or service may be present in the sitemap but rarely appear in internal navigation. Such a page ends up deeper in the structure and receives fewer logical navigation paths.
It's best to add links from thematically related sections and materials. Mechanically interlinking from all documents creates unnecessary noise.
Too many duplicate links
Multiple links to the same URL can appear from menus, breadcrumbs, and the main content. Repetition alone does not indicate a technical error.
It's worth checking cases where identical links take up space without a clear navigational purpose. The decision is made based on the page context, not a fixed limit.
Links to technical and unnecessary URLs
Filters, parameters, duplicates, and service pages sometimes receive internal links automatically. Before fixing them, you need to determine the role a specific URL plays for users and indexing.
After this, canonical, meta robots, and other technical signals can be evaluated. There is no universal rule for all parametric pages.
When auditing internal links, I first look at the technical condition and logic of the interlinking, and only then at the total number of clicks. First, I check 4xx and 5xx links, then redirects, anchors, and the pages that actually receive internal links. If an important category is deeply embedded and has little connection to relevant sections, I review the interlinking. Each new link should help the user navigate to a logical continuation of the current page.
How to check internal links of a page online?
To check a page's internal links, enter the full document address and run the analysis. The internal link checker retrieves available data on the identified transitions and displays it in an easy-to-read format.
The names internal link analyzer, internal link audit tool, and internal link checker online describe the same basic scenario: the user enters a URL and receives the information needed to check interlinking.
Specify the page URL
Enter the full address, including the protocol and domain, so the service can analyze the document you need. For a multilingual website, select the specific language version that is part of the current structure.
The page must be accessible without mandatory authorization or other access restrictions. Otherwise, the internal linking checker may produce incomplete results.
Run an internal link analysis
Once launched, the internal links checker collects links and available parameters of target URLs. Depending on the implementation, the report displays anchors, response statuses, nofollow, and redirect information.
The report itself requires further human review. A working response code doesn't guarantee that the link leads to the correct page.
Review the links and statuses found
Start with 4xx and 5xx, then check 301 and 302. After technical errors, move on to anchors, internal URLs, rel attributes, and link distribution between important pages.
This order helps quickly separate critical issues from less urgent ones. For a large report, it's helpful to sort rows by status and error type.
Fix any issues found
For a broken URL, find a valid page or delete the unnecessary link. It's better to replace an internal redirect with a direct link if the final address is already known and should be used consistently.
After making changes, re-run the URL analysis. This will check whether old errors have disappeared and whether new ones have appeared after editing templates or content.
What we actually did
Dental clinic · Kyiv and Chernihiv
+44% clicks from search
A domain with no history on a website builder. We built the semantic core for both cities, reworked the landing pages and built the link profile from zero. Four months: 34.8k clicks, impressions 1.32 → 1.76M, DR 0 → 41.
E-commerce · international
+96% clicks in two months
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Medical center · Ukraine
+68.75% visibility in the first month
Narrow visibility and a small semantic core at the start. Semantics, landing page structure, metadata and internal linking, then gradual link building.
Answers to your questions
How to check internal links of a page?
Enter the full URL into the service form and run the scan. After processing, examine the internal links, anchors, HTTP statuses, and available redirect data.
It's best to start analyzing 404 and other server response errors. After fixing the issues, run the analysis again.
What is an internal link checker?
Internal Link Checker is a service for analyzing transitions between pages on a single website. It helps you see target URLs, anchors, response statuses, and other technical parameters.
In English, this service is often called an internal link checker. The main use case remains the same, regardless of the name.
How to find broken internal links?
Broken links are detected by 4xx HTTP responses, most often by status 404. Once detected, you need to determine the source page and select a valid replacement address.
If the relevant page no longer exists, the link is removed. After the edits, the site is rescanned.
Do I need to fix internal links with 301 redirects?
If the link can be directly redirected to the final URL, it's best to update it. This removes the additional transition from the old URL from the internal route.
The redirect itself can be left for external links and old bookmarks. Within your own website, it's more reasonable to use the current URL.
How many internal links should there be on a page?
There's no single number for all pages. Catalogs, articles, product cards, and service pages all serve different purposes and require different numbers of clicks.
It's more important to evaluate the usefulness and relevance of each link. A large number of repeated clicks alone doesn't improve SEO.
Do internal links affect indexing?
Search engines use internal links when crawling a site and discovering pages. A clear structure makes it easier to access new and updated documents.
Moreover, links work in conjunction with sitemaps, meta robots, canonical, and other technical signals. The cause of indexing issues must be investigated comprehensively.
What is an internal link anchor?
An anchor is clickable text that the user sees within the page. It helps them understand the content of the document that opens after clicking.
It's best to use clear and natural wording. Don't repeat the same search query in every anchor.
Is it possible to use the same anchor for multiple internal links?
Yes, as long as the wording matches the purpose of the transitions and doesn't mislead the user. Identical anchors are regularly found in menus and other template elements.
It's best to consider the context of each transition in your main content. This makes the text clearer and helps describe the landing page more accurately.
Related services
External links checker
Check a page's external and outgoing links online: URLs, anchors, HTTP statuses, nofollow, sponsored, and UGC. Find broken and problematic links.
Nofollow / Sponsored / UGC Checker
Nofollow checker online: check the dofollow, nofollow, sponsored, and UGC attributes of links on a page. Paste the URL and get the rel status for each link.
We reply within one business day. No newsletters, no “just a reminder” calls.
He will look at the site himself instead of passing it to a manager.
More on: Checking the internal links of a website
What does the internal link checker show?
The Internal Link Checker collects data on clicks on the analyzed page and shows where they lead. The report can display internal URLs, anchor text, HTTP status, redirects, and rel="nofollow" if the current version of the service supports these parameters.
It's best to prioritize the results of the check. First, check for server response errors, then redirects, and then move on to anchors and the overall link structure.
Source and target page URLs
The source page contains the link, and the target page is opened after clicking it. This separation helps quickly identify the location of an outdated or incorrect URL.
If a single document is analyzed, the source page usually remains the same for all report rows. The target URL changes for each found link and requires separate verification.
Internal link anchor
Anchor text is the visible text of a link that explains the user's navigation path. For example, the wording "delivery terms" is clearer than the neutral word "more details" if the link actually leads to the delivery page.
Anchors should match the content of the landing page and flow naturally within the sentence. Repeating a single, precise commercial query across all links is not necessary.
HTTP status of the landing page
The HTTP status indicates the response the server returns for the target URL. During a technical audit, the most commonly checked responses are 200 OK, 301 redirect, 302 redirect, 404 error, and 5xx server responses.
The response code should be evaluated in conjunction with the page's purpose. Even a technically accessible URL may lead to an outdated section or duplicate, so a 200 status alone is not enough to evaluate a link.
Links with status 200
Status 200 means the server successfully returned the target page without a required redirect. For a regular internal link to a live section, this response is considered normal.
After this, it's worth checking the relevance of the URL itself and the page content. The link should lead to where the user expects to go after reading the anchor text.
Internal links via 301 or 302
301 is typically used for permanent URL redirects, while 302 is used for temporary redirects. If an internal link constantly points to the old URL, it's best to replace it with a direct link to the final URL.
After migration, such links often remain in old articles, menus, and template blocks. Updating them shortens the navigation chain and simplifies site crawling.
Links to 404 and other errors
A 404 error means the requested page was not found, while 5xx responses are related to server-side issues. Broken links create a dead end for the user and require separate verification.
If a deleted page has a valid replacement, the link is changed to the new address. When there is no suitable page, the link is removed or the text fragment itself is adjusted.
Dofollow and nofollow
A regular internal link without a restrictive rel attribute is used by search engines as a standard transition between pages. The nofollow attribute provides an additional signal to the crawler, but does not guarantee a URL is blocked.
For regular indexed sections of a site, nofollow is usually not necessary. If it is used on important internal links, the reasoning behind this decision should be examined.
How do internal links affect SEO?
Internal linking helps search engines crawl your website and understand the relationships between pages. Users can use these same links to quickly access related products, services, categories, and content.
For a large project, a clear website structure and controlled nesting depth are especially important. The fewer technical dead ends and random transitions, the easier it is to maintain the site after changes.
Crawling and indexing pages
A search engine robot discovers a URL while crawling a site and follows available links. If an important document has little connection to other indexed pages, its place in the structure becomes less obvious.
Internal transitions work in conjunction with sitemaps, canonicals, and other technical signals. Therefore, indexing issues cannot be assessed based on just one metric.
Distribution of internal link weight
Links help distribute internal signals between pages. Logical interlinking can demonstrate the relationship between categories, services, and informational materials.
A precise, universal formula for a practical audit isn't required here. It's more useful to check the accessibility of important URLs, the nesting depth, and the relevance of source pages.
Page relevance and anchors
The anchor and surrounding text provide additional context about the destination page. The user understands the navigation direction in advance if the wording matches the content of the final document.
This context is also useful for search engine optimization. Re-optimization with identical keyword anchors is unnecessary.
Navigation and user path
Good interlinking helps visitors continue to use the site without returning to the search results. From an article, they can navigate to a service, from a category to a product, and from a service to terms and conditions or a related solution.
Each transition should have a clear practical purpose. Unnecessary links complicate the interface just as much as poor navigation does.
How to fix errors in internal links?
It's best to start fixing the most obvious technical issues. First, remove links to unavailable pages, then update old URLs with redirects, and then revise the anchor text.
After each major series of edits, it's helpful to re-run an internal link check. This makes it easier to see the results and catch any errors that may have surfaced during editing.
Replace broken URLs
For a broken link, first find a valid page with the corresponding content. Replace the old address with a new one, and verify that the resulting document returns the expected status.
If there's no suitable replacement, it's best to remove the link. Redirecting all deleted pages to the homepage just to fix the 404 error isn't necessary.
Remove unnecessary transitions through redirects
If an internal link points to an old URL that redirects further, it can be updated to the final URL. This is especially common after migration.
The 301 itself can remain for old external links. It's better to gradually use current URLs within the site.
Review anchors
A relevant anchor should clearly describe the direction of the navigation and flow naturally within the sentence. A vague anchor can be replaced with a more specific one.
There's no need to use exact keywords every time. Word forms and natural variations help maintain the natural flow of the text.
Strengthen important pages with internal links
If an important section is located too deeply, add links from thematically related pages. The link source must be truly relevant to the content of the target document.
New services and categories should be checked especially carefully. After publication, they sometimes remain linked only through a sitemap or shared directory.
Check links after changes
After making the corrections, run the analysis again and check the status of your landing pages. Make sure that any old 404 errors, unnecessary redirects, and erroneous anchors have disappeared.
When changing a general template, test several page types. A single error in a component can affect a large section of the site.
When should you conduct an internal link audit?
The frequency depends on the project's size and update frequency. A small corporate website is typically checked after significant changes, while a large catalog requires more regular monitoring.
A separate audit is necessary after migrations, redesigns, mass page deletions, and URL changes. A review is also useful after launching important new sections.
After changing the site structure
When reorganizing categories and sections, some old redirects may remain in content or templates. Checking helps identify them before a large number of redirects and errors accumulate.
Particular attention is paid to menus, breadcrumbs, and repeating blocks. An error in such an element can spread across multiple pages.
After migration or redesign
Migration often involves URLs, navigation, and templates simultaneously. After launching, you should check the main page types and ensure that links point to the final URLs.
If old transitions remain, they are updated according to the redirect map. Then, a repeat technical audit is performed.
After mass deletion of pages
Deleting products, articles, and categories often leaves links to old documents. Without re-checking, such links continue to appear in various sections of the site.
Before deleting, it's a good idea to identify potential replacement pages. After the work is complete, you need to find any remaining old URLs.
When publishing new important pages
The new page should have clear internal navigation from related sections. If the URL is only present in the sitemap, it will be more difficult for the user to find it in the usual way.
After publishing, it's worth checking the link depth and sources. For the commercial section, referrals from the parent category and related materials are useful.
During a regular technical SEO audit
Regular testing helps identify accumulated errors before they spread across the site. The frequency depends on the volume of changes and the specifics of the project.
An online store with a constantly changing catalog usually requires more frequent monitoring. A static website can be checked less frequently and timed for major updates.
How are internal links different from external links and backlinks?
Internal, external, and backlinks differ in their direction and purpose. Technical analysis of a website's structure focuses on the transitions between its own pages.
It is convenient to show the difference in a table:
| Link type | Where does it lead from? | Where does it lead? | The main task |
|---|---|---|---|
| Internal | Website page | Another page of the same site | Navigation, indexing, interlinking |
| External | Website page | Another domain | Switching to an external source |
| Reverse | Another site | Your website | External link profile analysis |
Checking internal links refers to the technical condition and structure of your own website. Backlink analysis requires other data: donors, anchor text, site authority, and link profile dynamics.
Priority for checking found issues
| What to check | Priority, % | Level |
|---|---|---|
| 4xx and 5xx | 100% | High |
| 301 and 302 | 80% | High |
| Anchors | 60% | Average |
| Nofollow | 40% | Average |
| Duplicate URLs | 40% | Depending on the situation |
The percentages indicate relative priority during the initial analysis of the report, not the factor's relative impact on SEO. Obvious technical errors are addressed first, then redirects are checked, and only then do less critical structural issues come into play.
Check internal links after changes to the site
Checking internal links is especially useful after migrations, redesigns, page deletions, and URL structure changes. It helps identify broken links, old redirects, weak anchors, and pages that are poorly linked to other sections.
Run a check, analyze the errors found, and repeat the analysis after making corrections. This will make it easier to maintain an up-to-date link structure and a clear path between important site pages.